Instructions for Submitting Proposals for Sessions and Mobile Workshops

Deadlines & Proposals
Online Proposal Form Submitted to Division: August 17, 2007

Division Session Proposal Coordinator Submission, Online Proposal Form, August 28, 2007

Mobile Workshops Online Proposal Form Submitted to Local Host Committee: June 19, 2007


Division Session Proposal Coordinator
Each Division Chair shall appoint a Session Proposal Coordinator to organize the session proposals. If the Chair does not appoint a Coordinator, the Chair becomes the Coordinator by default.


Division Seeking Proposals from Division Members

NEW! Deadline to propose to division: August 17, 2007
Deadline for division session proposal coordinator to submit online proposals or notify APA staff of selection: August 28, 2007

Each division may have two sessions by right; this allocation is determined by the APA Board of Directors. Sessions are 75 minutes long. A division may combine its two sessions into one longer session of 2 hours, 45 minutes. If a division chooses this option, the longer session will count as two sessions.

The two division session proposals are accepted as the division's by-right proposals. However, staff will facilitate communication among all the groups with by-right sessions, such as the Local Host Committee, staff, and other divisions. Divisions are encouraged to review these materials and avoid duplication of sessions. One-half of the conference program is composed of these by-right sessions and workshops.

Divisions have their own area online for proposal submissions. The Session Proposal Coordinator will use this area to submit the division's proposals. Divisions may also solicit proposals online from division members to be considered for their by-right sessions. See below for instructions.

Members of divisions who are not submitting the division's official proposals will use the general member/non-member submission forms online.

If you have any difficulty with the online form, contact Alena Frey, Conference Coordinator, at SpeakerInfo@planning.org or 312-786-6397.

Important! When submitting the division proposals, the Session Proposal Coordinator needs to click on the appropriate division in the drop-down menu for "Divisions." This is critical, so staff can sort, identify, and track your proposals.


Instructions for Submitting Proposals

NEW! Designated Time for Division Sessions and Division Receptions

To increase interest in the divisions and their networking events, the schedule has been modified. The 2008 conference runs from Sunday to Thursday. Each division will have one of its sessions scheduled sometime on Monday through Thursday. Each division's second session will be held on Tuesday afternoon. At the end of the day on Tuesday, around 6:00 p.m., there will be a combined networking reception for all divisions.

Divisions will hold their business meetings separately from this reception (see section on business meetings).

The Diversity Forum will also be held on Tuesday afternoon at a time separate from any division session.

Divisions are encouraged to make the combined divisions networking reception engaging and lively. The purpose is to entice attendees.

Options for Division Members
Remember, while the division has two by-right sessions submitted by division officials, members of divisions are welcome to submit their own session proposals as individuals. These sessions will not be labeled as division events.

There are three options from which proposers of individual sessions may select:


Conference Tracks and General Guidelines

The National Planning Conference has approximately a dozen tracks each year that highlight new trends in planning. Division Session Proposal Coordinators and all other session proposers may ask to have their session considered for a track by selecting the track on the online proposal form. However, not all sessions will fit into tracks, and the request to be considered for a track is optional. Click here for a list of 2008 tracks.

All sessions are indexed by topic. The Division Session Proposal Coordinator selects two planning topics for the session when filling out the online proposal form. Click here for a downloadable list of all the planning topics.

Proposal tips are provided as guidelines that may be useful in developing your proposal.

Find information on:


Speaker Registration Policy
The speaker registration policy causes confusion for many conference speakers and organizers. First, divisions are strongly encouraged to have their own members serve as speakers. Division sessions are an excellent way to display the division's expertise.

All speakers in division (and other conference) sessions are required to register for the conference. Please read the speaker registration policy carefully BEFORE recruiting your speakers, so that everyone will understand the policy and its requirements. There are options for registration, including a Guest Registration, so please become familiar with this policy.


Submitting Mobile Workshop Proposals

Deadline: June 19, 2007

Divisions may submit mobile workshop proposals as well. These submissions are in addition to the two by-right sessions. The mobile workshop program is coordinated by the Local Host Committee, so division organizers must coordinate with the appropriate Local Host Committee members in proposing and organizing these events. For information on how to contact the LHC members, contact Alena Frey, Conference Coordinator, SpeakerInfo@planning.org.

Division officials may click here to submit online. When you enter the title of the mobile workshop, enter the name of the division first, so staff may identify your proposal appropriately.


Questions?

Carolyn Torma
Director of Education (conference program organizer)
ctorma@planning.org
312-786-6386

Deene Alongi
Director of Conferences
dalongi@planning.org
312-786-6389

Alena Frey
Conference Coordinator (mobile workshops, speaker and proposer assistance)
SpeakerInfo@planning.org or afrey@planning.org

Susan Turner
Divisions Coordinator
sturner@planning.org
312-786-6391

Search Planning.org